The October 2011 residential was a creative compositional project inspired by baroque music.  It formed a starting point for the Orchestra of the Age of Enlightenment’s national ‘Anthem for a Child’ project.   

Touring round the country with around 20 players, the OAE will 'pass the Olympic baton in sound', working with local partners in different locations to involve, coach, enthuse and inspire thousands of young people, from primary school age to students, in a unique approach to music education. The OAE players will also pass on their skills to trainee teachers and students who can then continue to develop the work locally.

This piece is written specifically for this project and will be sung by over 6000 adults and children in the culmination performance at the end of the project.  This particular performance is only the second time the piece has ever been heard.

A residential looking at communication got the students working together in ensembles to create an amazing final performance.

A residential looking at communication got the students working together in ensembles to create an amazing final performance.

From the Album 'TAXI to Djaly Kunda'.

If you would like to buy this album please contact the SWMS office.

Brothers, Ben and Alfie, joined South West Music School in September 2008. Despite having no string players in the family, at four years old Ben declared “what I really want is a violin!” and Alfie’s reaction to a mini-bass was “that’s what I want!” The brothers original repertoire touches on ‘folk’, ‘world, ‘classical & ‘jazz’, but defies categorisation. Their sibling empathy & natural creativity is musical alchemy.

South West Music School has provided the boys with individual mentors and tutors and has also coached them as a duo giving them the opportunity to record in a studio and produce their first professional album.

From the album 'TAXI to Djaly Kunda'.

To buy this album please contact the SWMS office.

Brothers, Ben and Alfie, joined South West Music School in September 2008. Despite having no string players in the family, at four years old Ben declared “what I really want is a violin!” and Alfie’s reaction to a mini-bass was “that’s what I want!” The brothers original  repertoire touches on ‘folk’, ‘world, ‘classical & ‘jazz’, but defies categorisation. Their sibling empathy & natural creativity is musical alchemy.

South West Music School has provided the boys with indivdual mentors and tutors and has also coached them as a duo giving them the opportunity to record in a studio and produce their first professional album.

Josie Newton has been with South West Music School since the beginning, joining in September 2007.  She joined as a singer/songwriter wanting to write, perform and record her own songs.  During her time with the school she has worked with her mentor and tutors, to make this dream a reality.

This song is from her first EP 'Colour Me In'.  To order a copy please contact the SWMS office.

Indigo Hicks has been with South West Music School since September 2009.  In that time she has worked with an individual tutor and mentor, attended the Core Programme Residentials, taken part in a string specific weekend and played with South West Youth Orchestra.

This is a live performance from Dartington Hall in October 2009 as part of the Young Artists Performance Series.

Josh Rose joined South West Music School in September 2008 as a singer but has recently widened his music making to the drums as well.

Josh has an individual mentor who talks through his musical career with him and individual tutors for singing and drums.  He has also had the opportunity to work with industry professionals in masterclasses and on a percussion specific weekend.

This performance was recorded live at Wiltshire Music Centre in April 2010 where Josh performed as part of our Young Artists Performance Series.

Ordinarily at SWMS residentials we do not 'pigeon hole' the students into genre specific boxes as we want them to experience all forms of music and step 'out of their comfort zone'.  On the surface, this residential may have seemed to go against this trend but there was a surprise in store!

We put the students into their genre specific groups and asked them to perform a simple nursery rhyme in that style, (ie Classical, Jazz, Rock etc).  We then gave them a completely different style to work in so that they could look at what elements make music into a specific genre if the melody, harmony and instrumentation is kept the same.

This is the 'classical' group performing their classical version of Twinkle Twinkle Little Star.  In the audio section you can also hear their 'rock' version.

Ordinarily at SWMS residentials we do not 'pigeon hole' the students into genre specific boxes as we want them to experience all forms of music and step 'out of their comfort zone'.  On the surface, this residential may have seemed to go against this trend but there was a surprise in store!

We put the students into their genre specific groups and asked them to perform a simple nursery rhyme in that style, (ie Classical, Jazz, Rock etc).  We then gave them a completely different style to work in so that they could look at what elements make music into a specific genre if the melody, harmony and instrumentation is kept the same.

This is the 'classical' group performing their rock version of Twinkle Twinkle Little Star.  In the audio section you can also hear their 'classical' version.

Martin Skews joined SWMS in September 2009 as a singer/songwriter but he also enjoys composing for other instruments.  In his first year of South West Music School, Martin has had individual mentoring and tutoring sessions, worked with industry professionals on Core Programme residentials and has also worked in a recording studio putting together the CD 'Kaleidoscope'.  You can order a copy from the SWMS office.  Martin's song 'Make Me a Monster' can be seen as a live performance in the Video section of the website.

This recording is the premiere performance of Martin's saxophone quartet which was recorded at the open mic session during the February 2010 residential at Dartington Hall by staff and students of SWMS.

This is the third movement of Schulhoff's sonata for unaccompanied contrabassoon.

Stanley joined SWMS in September 2009 on the bassoon and contrabasson.  He has been given the opportunity to work with professional musicians as mentors and tutors during his time with South West Music School.

This performance was recorded live during an open mic session at the residential in February 2010.  If you listen very carefully you can actually hear him circular-breathing!  (Not an easy feat on an instrument the size of a contrabassoon.)

Theo joined SWMS in September 2009.  At 12 years old he already had his own identity and sense of creativity that oozed out of him.

At the February 2010 residential he performed his own composition which was recorded live.  He had pre-recorded several violin tracks which he then improvised to live.  His influences include Keith and Julie Tippett who are well known for their free jazz improvisation.

This performance show's Theo's unique musical direction which is nurtured by South West Music School.

Young Artist's Performance Series
Wiltshire Music Centre
25th April 2010

Ruth Knight is an SWMS student who was part of the initial cohort of 15 students in 2007.  Throughout her time with SWMS she has been supported through individual tuition from Susan Milan as well as having workshops with Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra, masterclasses with professional tutors and performance opportunities such as South West Youth Orchestra and Young Artist Performance Series,  where this performance was recorded.

The October 2011 residential was a creative compositional project inspired by baroque music.  It formed a starting point for the Orchestra of the Age of Enlightenment’s national ‘Anthem for a Child’ project.   

Touring round the country with around 20 players, the OAE will 'pass the Olympic baton in sound', working with local partners in different locations to involve, coach, enthuse and inspire thousands of young people, from primary school age to students, in a unique approach to music education. The OAE players will also pass on their skills to trainee teachers and students who can then continue to develop the work locally.

This piece was based on a well known work by Purcell and was adapted by  the students to suit the instruments and styles in the room.

The October 2011 residential was a creative compositional project inspired by baroque music.  It formed a starting point for the Orchestra of the Age of Enlightenment’s national ‘Anthem for a Child’ project.   

Touring round the country with around 20 players, the OAE will 'pass the Olympic baton in sound', working with local partners in different locations to involve, coach, enthuse and inspire thousands of young people, from primary school age to students, in a unique approach to music education. The OAE players will also pass on their skills to trainee teachers and students who can then continue to develop the work locally.

This piece was based on the Octatonic Scale (played tone, semi-tone, tone, semi-tone etc) and was composed entirely by the students over the course of the weekend.

Brother duo Ben & Alfie Weedon performed their newest song at the October residential open mic.  What a stunner!  You can find out more about Ben and Alfie here http://benandalfie.blogspot.com/

This piece finished the concert at the July residential with all of the Core and Feeder Scheme students singing together on stage.  What a fabulous end to a really successful residential with Wren Music Trust.

The South West Music School students were split into small groups at the July residential and asked to create a piece based on a traditional folk song. This group created a song based on the folk song Raggle Tailed Gypsies.

The South West Music School students were split into small groups at the July residential and asked to create a piece based on a traditional folk song. This group created a song based on a folk dance tune.

The South West Music School students were split into small groups at the July residential and asked to create a piece based on a traditional folk song. This group created a song based on the resources they had in their group both instrumental and knowledge.

The South West Music School students were split into small groups at the July residential and asked to create a piece based on a traditional folk song.  This group created a song based on the sea.

Another song from the Final Performance of the July 2011 residential with Wren Music Trust.  This is a Georgian call and response song.  The 4 'callers' are James Aldridge, Josh Rose, Molly Lopresti-Richards & Ellie Boney.

This is the final performance from the July 2011 South West Music School residential.  The tutors were Wren Music Trust and the aim was to look at the roots of folk music and how this feeds into the rest of the music world.

Annabel Lainchbury performed this solo violin piece as part of Shaldon Festival in May 2011.

The February residential was all about words and music and how one feeds into the other.  Using inspiration from things such as nursery rhymes, pictures and shopping lists!

This is the final performance of one of the groups.

The February residential was all about words and music and how one feeds into the other.  Using inspiration from things such as nursery rhymes, pictures and shopping lists!

This is the final performance of one of the groups.

The February residential was all about words and music and how one feeds into the other.  Using inspiration from things such as nursery rhymes, pictures and shopping lists!

This is the final performance of one of the groups.

George Clark, a student of South West Music School, performed in the Great Hall at Dartington Hall as part of the Young Artist Performance Series. This is his live performance of 'Orpheus and his Lute' from Henry VIII. This song is one of a set of five 'Shakespeare Songs' that Sullivan composed during 1863 and 1864. The others are Sigh No More, Ladies O Mistress Mine, Rosalind and The Willow Song.

This piece is about Orpheus from Greek Mythology. He was the greatest mortal musician, nearly equaling the gods with his excellence. There was no limit to his power when he played the lyre and sang. Both people and nature followed him.

Ellie Boney joined South West Music School in September 2010 and in November 2010 performed as part of the Young Artist Performance Series.  This was recorded live at Dartington Hall, Totnes.

Ted Francis-Smith has been with South West Music School since September 2009.  This performance was part of the Young Artist Performance Series at Dartington Hall, one of the many performance venues across the South West.

This was recorded live on 21st November 2010.

Some of the South West's top orchestral musicians joined together in summer 2010 to form South West Youth Orchestra.  This is a recording from the final performance at Coade Hall in Blandford.  For more recordings please visit South West Music School's You Tube or Facebook site.

South West Music School Summer Residential 2010 was working on a commission by composer Mark Bowden written for the South West Music School 'Symphony Orchestra'. A combination of written notation and creative interpretation performed in the Chapel at Truro School

South West Music School Summer Residential 2010 was working on a commission by composer Mark Bowden written for the South West Music School 'Symphony Orchestra'. A combination of written notation and creative interpretation performed in the Chapel at Truro School

South West Music School Summer Residential 2010 was working on a commission by composer Mark Bowden written for the South West Music School 'Symphony Orchestra'. A combination of written notation and creative interpretation performed in the Chapel at Truro School

South West Music School Summer Residential 2010 was working on a commission by composer Mark Bowden written for the South West Music School 'Symphony Orchestra'. A combination of written notation and creative interpretation performed in the Chapel at Truro School

South West Music School Summer Residential 2010 was working on a commission by composer Mark Bowden written for the South West Music School 'Symphony Orchestra'. A combination of written notation and creative interpretation performed in the Chapel at Truro School

A short film showing the switching on of Worthy Farm's new solar-power plant, which opened yesterday. Film by Harriet Hoare and Mandy Briggs. It's soundtracked by a vibes (vibraphone) freeform session, captured live at the Engine Shed, Worthy Farm, performed by SWMS graduate Harriet Riley accompanied by SWMS tutor Alex Lee.

SWMS graduate Ross Pike performed Spring from Vivaldi's Four Seasons at the opening of the School's Proms at The Royal Albert Hall on 9th November 2011 but this performance was one with a significant difference.

Abley accompanied by the Penzance Youth String Orchestra, conducted by Tim Boulton, with members made up of muscians from across Cornwall, 5 of which are also South West Music School students; Ross played the violin solo part on electric guitar!  A performance like no other and well worth a watch.

David Knight, a student of South West Music School, performed at The Pound Arts Centre in Corsham as part of the Young Artist Performance Series. This piece is Bozza's Aria and is accompanied by Jackie Bevan.

Ruth Knight, a student of South West Music School, performed at The Pound Arts Centre in Corsham as part of the Young Artist Performance Series. This piece is a Martinu Sonata for flute and piano and is accompanied by Jackie Bevan.

A residential looking at communication got the students working together in ensembles to create an amazing final performance.  Composer Steven Berryman was commissioned to write this piece for this set of instruments with the intention of creating a piece that would involve communication both within the ensemble and also between the ensemble and the audience.

A residential looking at communication got the students working together in ensembles to create an amazing final performance

Josie Newton, graduate of South West Music School, recorded her first music video under the direction and photography of Kevin Clifford.

This is her own composition, Fate Can Be Kind.

South West Music School students, Harriet Riley & Molly Lopresti-Richards play Steve Reich's Nagoya Marimbas as part of the Young Artists Performance Series at Dartington Hall.

Harriet joined South West Music School in September 2008 and Molly a year later.  They have each had individual tutoring to improve their technique and range of repertoire on all percussion instruments and have also been given an individual mentor each to support them in their musical development.

This performance was recorded live in November 2009.

Toby Hodder has been part of South West Music School since September 2008.  He has been provided with individual instrumental lessons as well as a mentor who talks him though his musical pursuits and offers advice and guidance.  He has also had the opportunity to work with different tutors on SWMS residentials as well as attending a string specific weekend with Tim Boulton.

This is a live performance of Toby playing Faure Apres un Reve as part of the Young Artist Performance Series.  This was recorded live at The Pound Arts Centre, Corsham in February 2010.

Paul Fraser joined SWMS in September 2007 as a recorder specialist.  Through South West Music School, Pail has had lessons and masterclasses with some of the top recorder specialists in the world and has performed with James Risden at Dartington Hall.

Paul has won numerous awards and performed in a range of solo recitals.  This piece was recorded live at Dartington Hall as part of our Young Artist Performance Series.

Paul Fraser joined SWMS in September 2007 as a recorder specialist.  He has worked with recorded specialists from all over the world and now wants to perform as a career.

Paul performed this avant garde recorder piece at a concert at Dartington Hall as part of our Young Artist Performance Series where it was recorded live.

This is a live performance of tracks from the newly released album – Kaleidoscope. This album was the result of a project designed to develop singer/songwriters work onto a new level through a creative process with musicians and providing direct access to the professional music industry through recording and production. Musicians from South West Music School and Wells Cathedral School, from very different musical backgrounds and influences, have come together to create a kaleidoscope of different musical shapes and colours and introduce their work to you.

This song was written by Tobie Tripp of South West Music School and is called 'Mending Hearts' and was performed live as part of Bath Party in the City in May 2010.

To order a copy of the Kaleidoscope album please contact the office.

Harry Smith was among the first cohort of students in 2007 and is graduating in August 2010 when he will be going to University of Manchester to study music.  This is a live performance from The Pound Arts Centre in Corsham in February 2010 as part of our Young Artist Performance Series.

Harry plays both saxophone and violin and has studied them both during his time with South West Music School.

This is a live performance of tracks from the newly released album – Kaleidoscope. This album was the result of a project designed to develop singer/songwriters work onto a new level through a creative process with musicians and providing direct access to the professional music industry through recording and production. Musicians from South West Music School and Wells Cathedral School, from very different musical backgrounds and influences, have come together to create a kaleidoscope of different musical shapes and colours and introduce their work to you.

This song was written by Martin Skews of South West Music School and is called 'Make Me a Monster'.  It is a live performance from Bath Party in the City in May 2010.

To order a copy of the Kaleidoscope album please contact the office.

James Aldridge has been with South West Music School since September 2008.  In that time he has been given support through a mentor and individual tutors for guitar and voice and has also been given the opportunity to record his songs through a professional recording studio.

To buy a copy of this album please contact the SWMS office.

'27 Years' is a duet by brothers Ben & Alfie Weedon who have been part of South West Music School since September 2008.  They have worked with tutors individually and as a duo and have each been assigned a mentor who helps them work towards the career that they want as musicians.

This is a live performance from Bath Party in the City, performed at The Guildhall, Bath on 28th May 2010.

Tobie Tripp joined South West Music School as part of the first cohort in 2007.  He has worked with his tutor and mentor and has now gone to Royal Welsh College of Music on a strings scholarship!

This performance was recorded in February 2010 at The Pound Arts Centre in Corsham as part of the Young Artist Performance Series.